Is my profile good enough for ISB?

Is my profile good enough for ISB? This is a question that we have seen many ISB applicants pondering over. Aware of the stringent competition, applicants get nervous at even the slightest hint of imperfection(s) in their profile.

Few typical perceived profile weaknesses

• Minimal or completely missing extra-curricular
• Barely completing the minimal two years of work-experience
• Work-experience of 8+ years
• Not sterling academic grades in class 10/12/college
• Academic or professional gaps
• No demonstrated leadership experience
• No big-names to show for Education or Employment
• Minimal or completely missing social-service record
• Experience in an over-represented (read Information Technology) sector
• A relatively low GMAT/GRE score
• Work experience limited to Government/semi-Government sector
• Lack of any International work experience

Consequently, applicants start having second thoughts about applying to ISB. Our suggestion: Don’t! There is no such thing as a perfect profile. Every profile has its own fair share of strengths and weaknesses. Hence, rather than brooding over your weaknesses (most of which you anyway cannot do much about), introspect on your strengths.

We have covered few of these above perceived weaknesses in our other blog posts:

• How to tackle gaps in work experience or in academics
• Applying to ISB with poor or average academics
• The role of Extra curricular in the ISB application
• Candidates from Government/PSUs/military, applying to ISB

Convert your weaknesses into strengths

Hence, rather than brooding over your weaknesses (most of which you anyway cannot do much about), introspect your strengths. In fact, you would be surprised that what you thought as weaknesses, can actually be portrayed as genuine strengths. For instance:

i) If your work-experience is 8+ years, demonstrate the length and breadth of your experiences, since this would demonstrate the tremendous value-add that you bring to the class. If you have had any leadership experiences, that would be an icing on the cake.

ii) If your work-experience is significantly below the average for ISB, demonstrate how you have had breadth of experiences even in that short duration.

iii) If you have hand no leadership experience, demonstrate instances that show willingness to take ownership and ability to take initiatives. After all, leadership is not just about leading a team.

iv) If you have minimal or completely missing social-service record, you can still demonstrate empathy, by virtue of an instance wherein you perhaps showed concern for your co-worker, by volunteering to take up his/her tasks at work, because he/she was facing a personal adversity.

v) If your experience is exclusively limited to the over-represented (read ‘Information Technology’) sector, you can still differentiate yourself by showcasing complex projects that you have been a part of, difficult clients that you have handled, tight deadlines that you have met, or international clients whom you have successfully worked with.

Focus on your strengths, not weaknesses

An almost overused term in the application space is the word spike. Look for spike(s) in your profile. It could be anything: for instance, your GMAT/GRE score, your undergrad college-brand, your extra-curricular, or your professional accomplishments. Use the application and the essays to project your spike(s).